{"id":221,"date":"2016-03-14T06:00:35","date_gmt":"2016-03-14T06:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/happypetsinfo.com\/blog\/?p=221"},"modified":"2016-04-17T01:53:07","modified_gmt":"2016-04-17T01:53:07","slug":"understanding-your-cats-body-language","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happypetsinfo.com\/blog\/understanding-your-cats-body-language\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Your Cat\u2019s Body Language"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cat Body Language<\/h1>\n
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Cats use a variety of postures to convey their feelings<\/p><\/div>\n

Cats definitely have a special language all their own, and it is often difficult to understand what they are feeling or thinking.\u00a0 Understanding your cat\u2019s body language<\/em> can help in many ways to ensure your health as well as your cat’s health and safety by responding accordingly to her behavior.<\/p>\n

If you are a potential cat owner or already have a cat<\/em>, you should know that cat bites are potentially very dangerous as they create small, deep wounds or punctures that are difficult to clean.\u00a0 The risk of infection with a certain type of bacteria (P multocida) is estimated to be 10 times higher after a cat bite than a dog bite.\u00a0\u00a0 Knowing when your cat is stressed or agitated by looking for certain signals can help in understanding what she\u2019s trying to tell you in order to prevent fear and aggression, which lead to biting.<\/p>\n

CatSpeak<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Meow \u2013 This is an all-purpose word in cat language<\/em>.\u00a0 It might be a greeting, a command (hey, more food, please!) , an objection (no, I don\u2019t want you to pick me up right now!), or an announcement (Look what I brought you\u2026a mouse!).<\/p>\n

Purring –\u00a0 Of course, we all know that this is a sound of contentment.\u00a0 Sometimes cats may purr if they\u2019re not feeling well or anxious, as a kind of self-comforting mechanism.<\/p>\n

Growling, hissing, spitting \u2013 This indicates that a cat is angry, aggressive, or frightened.\u00a0 Leave this kitty alone.<\/p>\n

Yowling or howling \u2013 This tells you that your cat is in some kind of distress.\u00a0 She could be looking for you, stuck in a closet, or in pain. Elderly cats sometimes make these noises as a part of suffering from a cognitive disorder (dementia), and they howl because they are disoriented.<\/p>\n

Chattering or chittering – \u00a0There are several theories regarding the chattering or chirping sounds that cats sometimes make.\u00a0\u00a0 They usually do this when looking out of the window while watching birds and squirrels.\u00a0 Some believe that it is connected to the frustration she feels from not being able to get to the prey, and others say that it is how she controls her over-the-top excitement at spotting the bird. .<\/p>\n

Tail<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Tail up and fur flat \u2013 Happy,alert, inquisitive<\/p>\n

Tail up, fur standing on end (bottle brush tail) \u2013 This is a classic Halloween pose, and it indicates that the cat is feeling threatened or angry.\u00a0 When this is combined with an ears back, upright hair along the spine, arched back pose, it is time to move away from her. She is feeling aggressive, frightened, or angry.<\/p>\n

Tail held low or tucked between legs \u2013 Insecure or anxious<\/p>\n

Thrashing back and forth \u2013 This is a good indicator that the cat is agitated and should be left alone. \u00a0The faster the tail, the angrier the cat.<\/p>\n

Tail moving very slowly back and forth \u2013 Your cat is relaxed and happy.<\/p>\n

\"cat<\/p>\n

Ears<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ears forward \u2013 Content, interested, and playful<\/p>\n

Backward (Flat) \u2013 Angry or frightened<\/p>\n

Swiveling \u2013 Attentive to sounds around her<\/p>\n

Eyes<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Dilated pupils \u2013 Scared, surprised, or stimulated<\/p>\n

Constricted pupils \u2013 Tense or aggressive<\/p>\n

Stare \u2013 It\u2019s possibly a challenge from your cat!<\/p>\n

Slow blinking and half-closed \u2013 Relaxed, comfortable, trusting<\/p>\n

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This cat is marking his territory by rubbing the little boy.<\/p><\/div>\n

Rubbing<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Your cat rubs against you because she is marking her territory.\u00a0 Cats will also rub against their toys, furniture, the door, anything in sight. She\u2019s telling everyone that these things (and you) are hers.<\/p>\n

Kneading<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Some people call this action \u201cmaking biscuits\u201d, and it looks as though the cat is kneading dough with her paws while moving them up and down on a soft, pliable surface (usually a lap while you\u2019re petting them).\u00a0 Cats start to knead as kittens, while nursing from their mother. Adult cats associate the kneading motion with the rewarding comfort of nursing. This holdover from kittenhood usually occurs when you are petting her in your lap.\u00a0 She is returning the affection and is telling you that she loves you right back.<\/p>\n

\"happy<\/a>

Flehman Response – Cat’s body language<\/p><\/div>\n

The Flehman Response<\/strong> \u2013 Some cats,, while sniffing something, may lift their head, open their mouth slightly, curl back their lips and squint their eyes. They will hold that pose for several seconds, and it looks almost like a sneer or a \u2018stinky face\u2019. \u00a0Cats have an extra olfactory organ in the roof of their mouth behind the front teeth, connected to their nasal cavity, which is called the Jacobson Organ. This action intensifies the odor of interest and sends signals of information to the cat\u2019s brain.<\/p>\n

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Now that you have a little more information about how to understand your cat\u2019s body language and her actions, you are one step closer to trying to decipher her moods and needs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cat Body Language Cats definitely have a special language all their own, and it is often difficult to understand what they are feeling or thinking.\u00a0 Understanding your cat\u2019s body language can help in many ways to ensure your health as well as your cat’s health and safety by responding accordingly to her behavior. If you … <\/p>\n

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